2010 Season II

Conductor: Sasha Mäkilä
Soloist: Katya Apekisheva, Piano

Beethoven: Leonore No 3: Overture
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No 3, Opus 37, C minor
Beethoven: Symphony No 3, Opus 55, E-flat major (Eroica)

Gaining recognition as one of the most prominent rising talents of his generation in Finland and Europe, Finnish conductor Sasha Mäkilä was recently appointed by Kurt Masur as Assistant Conductor of France’s leading orchestra, the Orchestre National de France. This collaboration has included two complete cycles of Beethoven symphonies, in both Paris and at Beethovenfest Bonn in Germany, the first time a foreign orchestra was invited to perform the symphonies at this festival.

Mäkilä is much sought after as a guest conductor both in his native Finland and Russia. He has also lead orchestras in the UK, France, Denmark and the United States.

The conductor’s South African debut was during the 37th International Viola Congress in Stellenbosch last year, where he conducted two concerts featuring some of the top violists of the world. Following the success of these concerts, he was immediately engaged to conduct at the 2011 Viola Congress in Germany, as well as to guest conduct major South African orchestras.

Well-known as one of Europe’s foremost pianists in demand internationally as a soloist and chamber musician, Katya Apekisheva is a prize winner of the Leeds Piano Competition and Scottish Piano Competition.

She has appeared as soloist with many of the world’s leading orchestras including the London Philharmonic, the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Halle Orchestra, the Moscow Philharmonic, the Jerusalem Symphony and the English Chamber Orchestra. She has collaborated with such conductors as Sir Simon Rattle, David Shallon and Alexander Lazarev.

Her solo CD release of Grieg solo piano works in 2008 has received over-whelming critical acclaim. It was chosen by Classic FM as CD of the week and selected by Gramophone Magazine as Editor’s Choice. It also received “Rising star” award in International Piano Magazine and was Critic’s choice for the year 2008 in Gramophone Magazine.

Booking opens 28 April 2010